In addition to nano silver, the touch technology of foldable phones also includes metal grids

Silver NanowiresIt has the advantages of high conductivity, low cost, spreadability, and excellent transparency. It has a smaller bending radius and a smaller rate of resistance change during bending, making it more advantageous for devices with curved displays.

Nano silver wire is a conductive material thatNano silver wire ink materialCoated on plastic or glass substrates, and then using laser lithography technology, transparent conductive films with nanoscale silver wire conductive network patterns can be fabricated.

With the development of foldable products, the traditionalITO filmExposed its own shortcomings, the ITO layer is relatively fragile and lacks flexibility, making it impossible to produce foldable panels, and the material price is expensive. Among the new conductive films that can replace ITO, nano silver wires have advantages such as high conductivity, low cost, and coatability. Compared to metal mesh films, it has a smaller bending radius and a smaller rate of resistance change during bending, making it more advantageous for devices with curved displays.

Flexible folding touch display screens are also an aspect of the strategic layout of nano silver. This year, we will vigorously promote nano silver technology and initially focus on large-sized products and portable devices. Next, combined with the trend of foldable smartphones, the most suitable nano silver technology for bending can be fully utilized, and in the future, it is even expected to completely replace the existing indium tin oxide (ITO) touch sensing film technology, becoming the mainstream of touch panel applications.

In addition to nano silver, touch technology suitable for foldable phones also includes metal grids. Metal grids are made by pressing conductive metal grid patterns on plastic films and are known for their folding ability. It is rumored to have been used in Samsung's foldable phones. But the disadvantage is that the metal line width is relatively thick, and the Moir é effect is obvious under high graphics. The application of metal grid touch technology in small-sized mobile phones will cover the light-emitting points of OLED and affect the visual effect, so it is only suitable for large-sized products. And the diameter of nano silver wires is very small, so there is no problem of covering the OLED light-emitting points, so it is more suitable for application in small-sized foldable phones than metal mesh technology.

Silver nanowire foldable flexible display screen

Compared to other alternative varieties, nano silver wires have unique advantages in the manufacturing process:

1. The production process is simple and the yield is high. Due to the smaller line width, conductive films made with silver wire technology can achieve higher light transmittance.

2. Nano silver wire thin films have a smaller bending radius and a smaller rate of resistance change during bending, making them better suited for devices with curved displays, such as smart watches, bracelets, etc.

3. Has excellent conductivity, transparency, and resistance to bending and flexibility.

4. Due to the large aspect ratio effect of silver nanowires, they also have outstanding advantages in applications such as conductive adhesives and thermal conductive adhesives.

5. Can be mass-produced.

Nowadays, nano silver wires are regarded as the main material for future flexible OLEDs. Perhaps some people may ask, since the hype of flexible OLED, various links in the industry chain, such as substrates, modules, screen films, etc., have been dug to the bottom, but why have they only ignored nano silver wires?

This kind of question is not unreasonable. Currently, manufacturers such as Samsung and Huawei that have announced plans to release foldable screen phones have not revealed the use of nano silver wire materials; So, are nano silver wires not well received?

Let's take a look at a news article from 5 years ago. In 2014, foreign media reported that Apple's Iwatch officially adopted TPK Chenhong's nano silver wire thin film technology, and Apple's move can be seen as an endorsement of nano silver wires.

On the afternoon of February 19th, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) showcased Apple's latest patent for the Apple Watch, which uses a flexible screen to allow both the dial and strap of the watch to function as a display screen.

In addition, after Samsung and Huawei successively released foldable screen phones, Apple has officially joined the flexible screen battle; Recently, Apple updated a patent that depicts the appearance of a foldable iPhone.

From Apple's recent two actions, it can be seen that the reason why it lags behind Samsung and Huawei in launching foldable screen phones is more like holding back a big move. Imagine that five years ago, Apple had already adopted nano silver wire materials; When Apple officially joins the foldable screen battle in 5 years, will its trump card be nano silver wires?

Recently, the media reported that Apple's partner Chenhong Technology plans to start mass production of nano silver wire touch panels in the fourth quarter of 2019 to meet the growing demand for flexible OLED mobile phone screens, which undoubtedly adds imagination to nano silver wire.

Will 2020 be the next breakthrough?!

The slowdown in global smartphone growth is precisely due to the replacement of nano silver wire technologyITO conductive thin filmAn opportunity. Whether it's facial recognition, full screen display, or the current hot AI features, the smartphone industry needs revolutionary innovation. From now on, foldable phones are a great attempt. With the increasing demand for screen size, if you need to carry it with you, you must bend it. On the other hand, if foldable screens are realized, it will also bring about new product experiences and business models, with huge market opportunities.

Nano silver wires can better meet the rapidly changing and innovative product demands, and the trend of replacing traditional conductive materials is irreversible!